Short & Sweet Treats discussion

In the debut of literature's most famous sleuth, a dead man is discovered in a bloodstained room in Brixton. The only clues are a wedding ring, a gold watch, a pocket edition of Boccaccio's Decameron, and a word scrawled in blood on the wall. With this investigation begins the partnership of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Their search for the murderer uncovers a story of love and revenge-and heralds a franchise of detective mysteries starring the formidable Holmes.

I cannot wait to read this! It's been sitting on my shelf just waiting for me to pick it up :)

Available online if needed: https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/doyl...

Thanks abcdarian! :)

A while ago I've read The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and I admit it wasn't as much exciting as this one. It's the first time for me to know how Dr.Watson and Holmes have been introduced and the logic behind Holmes's reasoning. But I also get the feeling that it's all about Holmes rather than the riddle or the mystery itself.

I'm not a big fan of Sherlock Holmes, unfortunately.

Doyle is such a cheater by the standards of a modern mystery writer. Half the readers' clues to solve the mystery are just the way Sherlock reacts to things he's already figured out.

But one of these days I'll get around to reading The Memoirs of ... and The Return of.... I understand that's where the arch nemesis and the brother are introduced.

Is anyone reading this one? I'm probably going to start this weekend.

Hi,
I just joined the group and I'll be reading this book because I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes. Not so much because it's great writing; more so because I grew up watching those hokey half-hour mysteries with my dad on Sunday afternoons. Memories :)

LOL! Great Mary Ellen - I plan to start tomorrow. :) I haven't read this particular one, but generally I find Doyle's books fun.

Hi, Mary Ellen. If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan you'll definitely like this one.

I'm about half way through. A fun mystery, quirky characters, and some pleasing gentle satire, such as the newspaper story about the crime that (at least for me) pokes fun at the public's xenophobia).

A very entertaining, short read. Hopefully more people will join in the comments!

Only about 20 pages left. Interesting!

Part 1 was as I expected, very similar to many of the Sherlock Holmes short stories that I've read & enjoyed.

Part 2 however is very different - in fact Holmes and Watson disappear from view for several chapters. Despite that, I like it, quite a lot. It reads like a good thriller. The story is quite gripping.

Not sure what mormons might make of part 2 though. Some things are historically factual, others perhaps a bit exaggerated.

Some interesting wiki articles:

Mormon Reformation and "Avenging Angels":
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon...

Danites (related to "Avenging Angels"):
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danite

Greg wrote: "Not sure what mormons might make of part 2 though. Some things are historically factual, others perhaps a bit exaggerated. ..."

It's not that flattering, is it?

I got the impression that it was mostly historical just really exaggerated with the lurid aspects played up to make it "sound" better.

Greg wrote: "Part 2 however is very different - in fact Holmes and Watson disappear from view for several chapters..."

My favorite of all the Sherlock tales I've read so far is Hound of the Baskervilles and I think it's partly to do with the fact that there's very little of Sherlock in it for most of the book.

I did very much enjoy The Hound of the Baskervilles as well Melanti!

My book didn't have a footnote translating the Latin quote at the end; so I had to look it up. In case anyone else is in that boat, the translation is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/5228...

Populus me sibilat, at mihi plaudo
Ipse domi stimul ac nummos contemplar in arca.

The public hiss at me, but I cheer myself when in my own house I contemplate the coins in my strong-box.

Part 2 took me by surprise as well. I actually thought it was the beginning of a new tale. With that said, I checked out The Complete Sherlock Holmes. So, after finishing "A Study in Scarlet," I continued reading the other tales and short stories. Most are quite interesting. Though I'm quite interested in how Doyle doesn't mind dealing with some undesirable topics, such as the KKK, opium dens, cocaine use, etc. Drug use was obviously a topic regardless of where in the world you lived. But I was surprised that he was as aware (at that point time) of some of the darker aspects of American culture.

Drug abuse (opium etc) was a problem in Victorian times; I vaguely recall other novels of the period touching on it as well.

And I do agree Doyle is not shy in including such darker aspects! It's interesting.

Just finished, I am surprised how much enjoyed it. I do not usually read mysteries.

I also was wondering about the historical accuracy of the Mormons depicted in the book. I do agree with Melanti that the author probably exaggerated some aspects of the story to sensationalize it.

Thank you Greg for posted the articles on the Mormon Reformation and the "Avenging Angels".

Laurie wrote: "Thank you Greg for posted the articles on the Mormon Reformation and the "Avenging Angels". ..."

My pleasure Laurie!

Laurie wrote: "Just finished, I am surprised how much enjoyed it..."

Me too Laurie! I've generally enjoyed the collections of Holmes short stories that I've read so far, but I've enjoyed reading the novels/novellas (this one and The Hound of the Baskervilles) even more!

True Mary, among other things. That novel was very controversial in its day.

I finished part 1 this morning, and sneak-peaked the first few lines of part 2; in all these years I didn't know he left England. I am motivated to finish my chores and errands so I can sit and see what's up

Mary wrote: "Oscar Wilde wrote about a severe drug addict in The Picture of Dorian Gray"

I think Wilde's book was more controversial for the homo-eroticism than it was for the drug use.

Drug use wasn't quite as looked down upon in the 1800's as it is today. It was seen more like we see a drinking binge. It wasn't until the early 1900's that they started focusing on the harmful effects.